UPDATE: Senate to Vote on Re-Authorizing VAWA

UPDATE: The Senate has voted down a GOP amendment to the Violence Against Women Act, 65 to 34, that would have removed language covering LGBT victims of domestic violence. The body is still set to vote on Monday on whether to pass the final bill–which has 62 cosponsors, a good sign that it will finally be passed.

On Monday, the Senate voted 85 to 8 in favor of renewing discussion of VAWA, which expired last September. Originally passed in 1994, VAWA aimed to end violence against women by providing federal resources for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

The bill the Senate will finally vote on is very similar to the bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Patrick Leahy and Mike Crapo in 2011. It would improve past VAWA programs and increase protections for tribal, LGBT and immigrant victims. However, the new bill removed the section that would have increased the number of visas available for immigrant victims of violence. House Republicans had argued that this would have allowed them to kill the bill under an obscure “blue slip” provision because it would raise revenue (which only a House-originated bill can do).

The bill closely mirrors the bill that was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate last year, and is the result of close consultation with law enforcement officials and the dedicated experts in the field who are so committed to saving the lives of many women around this country. For nearly 20 years, the programs supported by VAWA have been a lifeline to so many. They deserve swift action in Congress.

Comments

Way too many politicians are nothing more than white collar criminals slowing things down, wasting time, money and taking up space. They should be debunked. KICKED TO THE CURB. Especially if they refuse the VAWA BILL. .